The announcement Leach would not coach the Red Raiders in Saturday's Alamo Bowl against Michigan State came after the parents of receiver Adam James - father Craig is an ESPN college football analyst - complained about how their son was treated.

While Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was tapped to take Leach's place, Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, said he hasn't given up hope that Leach will coach in the bowl.

"We're going to do everything we can to see that our client is duly served justice and that he's reunited with his boys as soon as possible,'' Liggett said.

Asked how he planned to go about it, Liggett said, "Through the court system, don't ya?''

Tech completed an initial investigation before suspending Leach. The Avalanche-Journal learned during that investigation Leach did not dispute the facts, but did not believe he had done anything wrong. Leach also told officials James was a slacker and his father was always calling and acting like a Little League dad.

Leach had until Monday to write an apology and when he did not, the university officials felt they had to take action. Leach has been suspended indefinitely, with pay, from his role as head coach.

"We obviously think the allegations are very serious," said Jerry Turner, Board of Regents vice chair.

James practiced with the team in San Antonio on Monday. Tech did not release details of the incident, saying only that it "received a complaint from a player and his parents regarding ... Leach's treatment of the athlete after an injury."

Craig James was scheduled to work the Alamo Bowl broadcast; ESPN confirmed on Monday he'll be replaced.

The A-J learned that on Dec. 17, Leach ordered James to stand in a dark shed at the Tech football practice facility because he thought James was faking a concussion he'd suffered during practice the previous day. Leach had him watched, and when James sat down, Leach had things removed from the shed so he could not sit.

Two days later, Leach forced James to stand in a dark room for three hours. "Mr. and Mrs. James took the step with great regret and after consideration and prayer to convey to the Texas Tech Administration that their son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with commonsense rules for safety and health," the James family said in a statement issued through a publicist.

Liggett said it's "ridiculous'' to characterize the building adjacent to the team's practice fields as a "shed'' or an "electrical closet.''

"Because of the fact that he had a concussion and he was extremely limited in the physical activity he could undergo, Mike felt like that was the best place for him and still be close to and part of the team,'' Liggett said.

Liggett said while James was secluded on two occasions, he was not treated inappropriately and had a doctor's statement attesting to that.

"There's much, much more than meets the eye,'' Liggett said. "The diagnosing doctor has signed a note stating that Adam James was in no way injured by the actions coach Leach took. In fact, he was better off in the building than he would have been outside."

The decision to suspend Leach was made in consultation with the Tech president, chancellor and Board of Regents members.

Regents chair Larry Anders said he could not comment on the investigation because it is a personnel issue, but the decision was ultimately made by Tech President Guy Bailey and Athletic Director Gerald Myers.

"We've been briefed, but ultimately, at the end of the day, it came down to a decision by the president and (athletic director)," Anders said.

Bailey and Chancellor Kent Hance did not return phone calls for comment. Tech football players did not give interviews after their first practice in San Antonio on Monday night, and an ESPN representative said Craig James will not be giving interviews at this time.

"We have a sense of regret this has come right before a bowl game," Turner said. "I really hope our team can rally behind coach McNeill."

Leach received three national coach of the year awards in 2008 after leading Tech to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl berth. It also earned him a new, five-year, $12.7 million contract that came after the school and the coach had a heated and contentious battle to get the deal done. If the contract is terminated, Tech would have to pay Leach $400,000 for each remaining year.

Tech is 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12 this season.

Leach is known for his outspokenness.

This fall he famously criticized players' family and friends as "fat little girlfriends" who beefed up players' egos. He changed quarterback Taylor Potts' jersey to say "Nick" because he thought Taylor wasn't a masculine enough name for the QB. He suspended linebacker Marlon Williams and banned players from using Twitter after Williams posted "Wondering why I'm still in this meeting room when the head coach can't even be on time to his on (sic) meeting."

Leach suspended offensive guard Brandon Carter after the Raiders' loss to Houston on Sept. 19 for an outburst that included smashing his helmet and loudly criticizing the coaching staff.

Last spring, Leach sent split end Edward Britton to study on the football field despite 30-degree weather and snow flurries because Britton had missed a study session.